Are you a Project Runway fanatic? (if not, skip this post). God knows we are. We watch every episode On Demand as they're available, again and again. We own all the other seasons on DVD, and watch them again and again, unless there's an NCIS marathon. When we were in New York, we made a Project Runway pilgrimage. First stop, in a downpour, to Bryant Park, where, until this season, Fashion Week was held. Then, in the fashion district, to Parsons, where the magic happens. After that, Mood Fabrics, which is so overwhelming that we couldn't figure out what to buy. To Toys R Us in Times Square, where there once was a Barbie challenge; here, though, we got distracted by the indoor Ferris wheel. The Hershey store, scene of another challenge, a very disappointing place. (M&M World was much more fun). In Times Square we also saw the ad for one of the winning designs. Finally, somewhat to my surprise, the Metropolitan Museum, where past contestants got inspiration. We found the Greek statue that inspired one of them, and I stood and stared at it for a long time. An amazing work of art. Meanwhile, daughter fell in love with the antiquities, also amazing.
If you've been watching the season, then you know it's been rather odd, with most of the contestants getting along, and one, Michael C., being ostracized, partly because of his attitude, and partly because of his lack of technical skills, which led to a lot of jealousy when he started winning. But as time went on it became clear that he's a talented designer.
So now we have the final results, of who's going to Fashion Week. Mondo, we both agree on, and Andy's been pretty consistent. But Gretchen, over Michael C.? The stuff he showed was fabulous, while hers - well, let's say, I've never been a fan of 70's style. I've come around to liking Michael. I've realized that he's a fragile soul, very insecure, very wounded.
So, this coming Thursday is the big finale, with a reunion show - that should be interesting - and Fashion Week. If there's any justice in the world Mondo should win. We shall see.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Their Royal Highnesses
We have had two new feline arrivals here at the Queendom. HRH Dimitri and HRH Alexandra have arrived. Dimitri (aka Dimka) is a long haired gray tiger, and Alexandra (Sasha) is black with a white chest and paws. HRM Puffy, Queen of the house, is still Not Amused, even after 2 weeks. She’s over her sulks, but she is taking these usurpers on sufferance. They harass her, take her food, and generally make her life difficult at times. Still, they are the nicest of kittens, and while the Palace is in a bit of an uproar, there is no doubt they’ve added life to it.
I’ve never before had 2 kittens at the same time. In fact, I didn’t plan on getting any. Puffy was quite enough. But then I saw Dimka’s picture and fell in love, and when I met him he fell in love with me. After a few days we decided that he must be lonely, and so Sasha came home. They are brother and sister, and act like it, with squabbles and fights. They’re also at the toddler stage, and like all babies, must be watched carefully to keep from getting into real mischief. All three cats follow me everywhere, including into some odd and private places. I’m scratched all over, especially on my chest, where they like to walk. Fortunately, I’m ample enough there! But then they both fall asleep on my lap, and my heart melts.
All right, I admit it. I’m turning into a cat lady. Not a crazy cat lady, not yet. By informal definition a cat lady must have at least 4 cats, be of a certain age, be single, and live alone. Being a librarian just adds to the nuttiness. While I don’t meet all of those criteria, I have to admit that I’m crazy about these kittens. Puffy is also coming in for her share of attention, taking up most of my bed at night, until I’ve had enough.
So Dimka (aka Dimka Do, DooBee, Doodle, and Dooley - hey, why not an Irish-Russian cat?) and Sasha (Sasha Too, or Tootles) have come to stay, and the real Queen of the Castle - me - couldn’t be happier.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
It's a Beautiful Day in the Library
Librarians are nuts. When I tell people this, I get polite, disbelieving smiles. Everyone knows librarians wear sensible shoes, hair pulled back into severe buns, reading glasses hung on a chain, and a permanent scowl. The truth is, we're generally nice people who try to be polite and helpful. There's a reason we're nuts. It's our patrons, the people we serve.
There's something about being a librarian that tends to make people confide in us, like bartenders or hairdressers. In the past I've heard about the elderly lady whose husband chased her around the kitchen table. Appendix Guy told us all about his botched appendectomy, asked if I wanted to see his scar, and lifted his shirt before I could say no. Oh, ugh. Kitchen Guy designed a kitchen for me. Am I wrong, or are 42" cabinets a little large for a 5'3 1/2" woman? And people fall in love with us. We've all had our beaux. Last week I asked a man how he was, and he smiled and said, "Better now." Another man, who's never been particularly attentive or even nice, came in and said in a booming voice, "How's my girl?" No, I didn't hear that, I told myself. Please.
And, volunteers. Don't get me started on them. My favorite is the girl who was putting stickers on our DVD's. I told her to put them back on the shelf in ABC order. (God forbid you use the word "alphabetical" anymore. No one knows what it means. Some of them don't even know the alphabet). When she was done she proudly told me she'd put them on the shelf properly, and left. I went to check. Yes, she'd put them back in ABC order. Unfortunately they were all spine-in, so no one could read the titles. Ah, volunteers.
In the future I'll be writing more about the library life, for your reading pleasure. For now I'll leave you with a song, to the tune of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood":
It's a beautiful day in the library
A wonderful day in the library
Will you be mine
Won't you be mine
Won't you be my patron?
There's something about being a librarian that tends to make people confide in us, like bartenders or hairdressers. In the past I've heard about the elderly lady whose husband chased her around the kitchen table. Appendix Guy told us all about his botched appendectomy, asked if I wanted to see his scar, and lifted his shirt before I could say no. Oh, ugh. Kitchen Guy designed a kitchen for me. Am I wrong, or are 42" cabinets a little large for a 5'3 1/2" woman? And people fall in love with us. We've all had our beaux. Last week I asked a man how he was, and he smiled and said, "Better now." Another man, who's never been particularly attentive or even nice, came in and said in a booming voice, "How's my girl?" No, I didn't hear that, I told myself. Please.
And, volunteers. Don't get me started on them. My favorite is the girl who was putting stickers on our DVD's. I told her to put them back on the shelf in ABC order. (God forbid you use the word "alphabetical" anymore. No one knows what it means. Some of them don't even know the alphabet). When she was done she proudly told me she'd put them on the shelf properly, and left. I went to check. Yes, she'd put them back in ABC order. Unfortunately they were all spine-in, so no one could read the titles. Ah, volunteers.
In the future I'll be writing more about the library life, for your reading pleasure. For now I'll leave you with a song, to the tune of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood":
It's a beautiful day in the library
A wonderful day in the library
Will you be mine
Won't you be mine
Won't you be my patron?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
And When October Goes
What is the color of October? If you answered the obvious, glorious orange and red foliage, and crystal blue skies, of course you're right. But the real color of October is Pink. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thanks to the work of such organizations as the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a lot more is generally known about breast cancer than in the past - and a lot more strides are being made to cure this disease. During my last visit to Providence Place Mall, I saw pink ribbons and pink merchandise everywhere: Borders, Lady Foot Locker, Sephora, you name it. Even the Rhode Island State House dome was lighted in pink. There was no escaping it. Pink can be a frivolous color, but the message underlying it is serious. Breast cancer is deadly, but if caught in time is curable. Prevention is the best defense. We all need to be aware of that.
I lost my beloved mother to breast cancer some years back. She was scornful of cancer fundraising efforts, saying that organizations had been raising money for years and there still was no cure. Yet she herself benefited greatly by the research such funding allowed. Things changed a lot between the time she had her mastectomy at age 46, and when her cancer recurred at age 81. When she got sick again there were so many more treatment options available for her. More than once, new medications saved her life. There was even a treatment available for her specific type of cancer, if she'd been strong enough to handle it. She had 35 good years of life after her mastectomy. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren, living long enough to see them marry and have children of their own. She traveled a lot, including to China with me, when I adopted my daughter. When her illness returned, she handled it with grace and courage. I am in awe of her. 6 years on, I still miss her terribly.
I donate to the American Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Society. I buy pink ribbon merchandise and I eat pink M & M's. The most important thing I do, though, is to have a mammogram annually. I urge all the women reading this to do so, too. Don't wait until age 50 for the first one, as the government now recommends. Breast cancer strikes 1 in every 8 women. You don't want to be that one person. Learn all you can about this illness, for you and for the ones you love.
You can also help raise awareness and funds just by sitting at your computer. Click on the Breast Cancer Site to help fund mammograms for poor women. Visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for news, information and support. Sign up at Avon to walk for a cure. The Pink Ribbon Shop has all sorts of merchandise available, with part of the proceeds going to research, as does Choose Hope , which promotes awareness of all cancers. Every penny raised counts.
When October goes, so will the bright leaves and the sunny days and pink lights on state house domes. But the fight against breast cancer will continue. Please help.
I lost my beloved mother to breast cancer some years back. She was scornful of cancer fundraising efforts, saying that organizations had been raising money for years and there still was no cure. Yet she herself benefited greatly by the research such funding allowed. Things changed a lot between the time she had her mastectomy at age 46, and when her cancer recurred at age 81. When she got sick again there were so many more treatment options available for her. More than once, new medications saved her life. There was even a treatment available for her specific type of cancer, if she'd been strong enough to handle it. She had 35 good years of life after her mastectomy. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren, living long enough to see them marry and have children of their own. She traveled a lot, including to China with me, when I adopted my daughter. When her illness returned, she handled it with grace and courage. I am in awe of her. 6 years on, I still miss her terribly.
I donate to the American Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Society. I buy pink ribbon merchandise and I eat pink M & M's. The most important thing I do, though, is to have a mammogram annually. I urge all the women reading this to do so, too. Don't wait until age 50 for the first one, as the government now recommends. Breast cancer strikes 1 in every 8 women. You don't want to be that one person. Learn all you can about this illness, for you and for the ones you love.
You can also help raise awareness and funds just by sitting at your computer. Click on the Breast Cancer Site to help fund mammograms for poor women. Visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for news, information and support. Sign up at Avon to walk for a cure. The Pink Ribbon Shop has all sorts of merchandise available, with part of the proceeds going to research, as does Choose Hope , which promotes awareness of all cancers. Every penny raised counts.
When October goes, so will the bright leaves and the sunny days and pink lights on state house domes. But the fight against breast cancer will continue. Please help.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Imagine
Yesterday was John Lennon's 70th birthday. OMG, I feel old. I can remember when he said, "Never trust anyone over 30." Yet if he were still alive, my guess is that he'd be as driven and conscientious as ever, and still composing great music. "Imagine" the thoughts he gave us over the years: give peace a chance, love is all you need, war is over if we want it. But of all the subjects he wrote about, there is one you never hear celebrated.
Sleep.
That's right. Sleep. This was a man who truly knew the value of one of life's most important things. Consider, if you will, the following words:
Please don't shake me
No, don't wake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping.
A man who could write that was indeed a genius. As a society, we undervalue sleep. We work, work, work, drive home through traffic, take care of the kids and the house, and then, maybe, grab a few hours of rest. Few of us get the 8 hours we really need.
I'm not one of those. Nope. I love my sleep. Sometimes in the morning my first thought is how long it is until I can tumble into bed again. When I get my daughter up for school, I head back for one more precious hour. And, I admit, with some embarrassment, that on the days when I start work at 12, I usually sleep some more. What's wrong with that, I'd like to know? (oops. That's McCartney, not Lennon). I take naps. I sleep late whenever possible. Sometimes, having turned into my mother, I fall asleep in front of the TV. There's only one thing wrong with sleep: I'm not conscious and thus aware that I'm enjoying it so much. Guess I can't have everything.
When I'm overtired, I get manic. It's kind of fun, a natural high, but in other ways I'm not too effective. I have to be very careful driving, because I feel almost drunk. I tend to get short with people. I never want to go anywhere. Like most people, I work through the tiredness, but I'm not happy.
Remember that when we were little we took naps? Parents and teachers knew the value of rest for active little bodies. Little has changed, really. We all need sleep. It doesn't take a scientific study for us to know that we feel better when we're rested. We have more energy, can get more done, and, most importantly, are in better moods. We tend to have a more peaceful home life and not to snap at people. In fact, we're kinder in just about every way.
What if everyone in the world got enough sleep? Would people be healthier, happier? Would courtesy make a return appearance? Most importantly, would there be less fighting, more peace? Imagine. I do.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I think John Lennon would approve.
Sleep.
That's right. Sleep. This was a man who truly knew the value of one of life's most important things. Consider, if you will, the following words:
Please don't shake me
No, don't wake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping.
A man who could write that was indeed a genius. As a society, we undervalue sleep. We work, work, work, drive home through traffic, take care of the kids and the house, and then, maybe, grab a few hours of rest. Few of us get the 8 hours we really need.
I'm not one of those. Nope. I love my sleep. Sometimes in the morning my first thought is how long it is until I can tumble into bed again. When I get my daughter up for school, I head back for one more precious hour. And, I admit, with some embarrassment, that on the days when I start work at 12, I usually sleep some more. What's wrong with that, I'd like to know? (oops. That's McCartney, not Lennon). I take naps. I sleep late whenever possible. Sometimes, having turned into my mother, I fall asleep in front of the TV. There's only one thing wrong with sleep: I'm not conscious and thus aware that I'm enjoying it so much. Guess I can't have everything.
When I'm overtired, I get manic. It's kind of fun, a natural high, but in other ways I'm not too effective. I have to be very careful driving, because I feel almost drunk. I tend to get short with people. I never want to go anywhere. Like most people, I work through the tiredness, but I'm not happy.
Remember that when we were little we took naps? Parents and teachers knew the value of rest for active little bodies. Little has changed, really. We all need sleep. It doesn't take a scientific study for us to know that we feel better when we're rested. We have more energy, can get more done, and, most importantly, are in better moods. We tend to have a more peaceful home life and not to snap at people. In fact, we're kinder in just about every way.
What if everyone in the world got enough sleep? Would people be healthier, happier? Would courtesy make a return appearance? Most importantly, would there be less fighting, more peace? Imagine. I do.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I think John Lennon would approve.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Hello to all!
Hey, all. I've decided to keep this blog in the hopes of keeping up with all my friends, past and present. I use Facebook, but it's just not enough. I write long, and a 400+ word entry just doesn't cut it. I have what I think is a unique point of view on things, and I believe that it's better to laugh at what life throws at you than to cry - at least, in retrospect. The most interesting thing in life is people, and boy, do I come across them every day. So this blog, assuming I maintain it, will be about the trials and tribulations of my everyday life. I hope it will be entertaining.
Actually, I've always thought a blog is a pretty self-centered enterprise. It assumes people really want to learn about me. Well, of course you do, or you wouldn't be here. So, for those of you who might not know, a bit about myself:
I am a single mother of a teenager in high school, which is alternately frustrating and fun. I work as a librarian in a fairly large metro system, and because of staffing problems I bounce back and forth between 2 branch libraries. The biggest thing in my life for a long time was my writing; I am a past and future novelist. Past, because I gave it up in January, 2008, and what a relief that was. Future, because my creativity is not gone, and when I get over my burnout I fully expect to write again. I'm bursting at the seams with ideas and characters who are demanding that I tell their stories. At the moment my life is pretty dull. I mostly work, read, ignore housework, and hang out with my daughter, not necessarily in that order of importance. And I sleep, but that's another matter.
One topic I'll be spending time on is life at a library, because things happen there that most people would never expect. However, I imagine I'll be holding forth on fun with my iphone, excitement that Michelle Kwan is skating again, the joys of Sephora makeup and OPI nail polish, my current reading list and my push to read 150 books this year, and the importance of looking fabulous every day. (Yeah. Right). So fasten your seatbelts and hold onto your hats, because this will be a roller coaster ride.
Mary
Actually, I've always thought a blog is a pretty self-centered enterprise. It assumes people really want to learn about me. Well, of course you do, or you wouldn't be here. So, for those of you who might not know, a bit about myself:
I am a single mother of a teenager in high school, which is alternately frustrating and fun. I work as a librarian in a fairly large metro system, and because of staffing problems I bounce back and forth between 2 branch libraries. The biggest thing in my life for a long time was my writing; I am a past and future novelist. Past, because I gave it up in January, 2008, and what a relief that was. Future, because my creativity is not gone, and when I get over my burnout I fully expect to write again. I'm bursting at the seams with ideas and characters who are demanding that I tell their stories. At the moment my life is pretty dull. I mostly work, read, ignore housework, and hang out with my daughter, not necessarily in that order of importance. And I sleep, but that's another matter.
One topic I'll be spending time on is life at a library, because things happen there that most people would never expect. However, I imagine I'll be holding forth on fun with my iphone, excitement that Michelle Kwan is skating again, the joys of Sephora makeup and OPI nail polish, my current reading list and my push to read 150 books this year, and the importance of looking fabulous every day. (Yeah. Right). So fasten your seatbelts and hold onto your hats, because this will be a roller coaster ride.
Mary
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